"Independence Day in Europe - In France, General Eisenhower observes General Bradley fire a giant howitzer which signals our massed artillery into a massed cresendo of fire. Behind the lines, the French string 'Welcome' signs all over, improvise American flags, and a choral group of French children sing 'America.' They love our mow-oon-tains. Canadians Advance - After a well earned rest, following the landing battles in Normandy, the Canadians return to the thick of the fighting at Cariquet. So severe is the fighting that some of the Canadian camera crew were killed while filming these shots. In their sector, the Yanks are blazing through the hedge rows with grenade guns. In Rome - Old Glory is raised at the Piazza Venezia, near the Victor Emanuel Memorial, scene of Nazi retreats." (partial newsreel)


This movie is part of the collection: Universal Newsreels

Production Company: Universal Studios
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w
Keywords: 1944

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: samking73 - - October 19, 2011
Subject: great newsreel
to the reviewer who is claiming this is only propaganda, i guess you wouldnt know that even to this day the French take their students out to honor the American war dead. the French might not care for us today but i bet you could ask any Frenchman that lived through the occupation and the liberation and they would tell YOU a thing or two.

Reviewer: yodawg99 - - June 4, 2011
Subject: umm
@Tom12348:
I know Americans are not known for their intelligence but, just wanted clear this up: You know this is propaganda right? Yep, propaganda existed in oh-so-free America, too! Several times in history to be exact. Unbelievable eh?

Reviewer: AirCavRick - - August 7, 2005
Subject: Little French girls sing "My Country..."
This is such a sweet piece of film; how many Americans have ever even seen it?! Too bad it can't be shown daily on French TV! Yes, that's right; grab a hanky!

Reviewer: Tom12348 - - July 25, 2005
Subject: Great History
Four years before this newsreel, Hitler imposed his facist state on France and the rest of Western Europe. In 1944 the liberation was the greatest rescue operation the world has ever known (to paraphrase Eisenhower). This short film gives a sense of the effort and how grateful the French were. The French schoolchildren singing the American national anthem is a definite highlight.